Injury mortality among ethnic minority groups in the Netherlands

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 249 - 255
• Main Authors: Stirbu, I, Kunst, A E, Bos, V, van Beeck, E F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.03.2006; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Accidents - mortality; Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Cultural differences; Death; Drowning; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; ethnic minorities; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; General aspects; Health facilities; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Homicide; Humans; Income - statistics & numerical data; inequalities; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Injuries; Low income groups; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Mortality risk; Murders & murder attempts; Netherlands - epidemiology; Pedestrian accidents; Pedestrian traffic; Physical trauma; Poisoning; Population; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Research Report; Research reports; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Urbanization; Wounds and Injuries - ethnology; Wounds and Injuries - mortality; Young adults; Netherlands; Europe; Human; Medicine; Ethnic origin; Accident; Minority; Mortality; Epidemiology; Trauma; Ethnic group; Public health
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.037325

Objectives: To prepare a comprehensive overview of ethnic differences in injury related mortality in the Netherlands and to determine the role of area income and urbanisation degree. Methods: Data for the period 1995–2000 were obtained from the population and cause of death registries. Injury related death rates were compared for persons from Turkish, Moroccans, Surinamese, and Antillean/Aruban origin with rates for the native Dutch population. Results: Compared with the native Dutch population, all ethnic minorities combined had an increased mortality for all injuries together (RR = 1.29). Ethnic minorities experienced a significantly higher risk of death from pedestrian accidents (RR = 1.87), drowning (RR = 2.58), poisoning (RR = 1.76), fire and scalds (RR = 1.95), and homicide (RR = 3.24). Mortality for cyclists (RR = 0.53) and motorcycle drivers (RR = 0.47) was significantly lower among ethnic minorities compared with the native Dutch. Adjustment for area income and urbanisation decreased the mortality risk difference for most of the non-traffic injuries, but showed a difference in risk for car driver and passenger accidents (RR = 1.37). Compared with the native Dutch inhabitants, Surinamese and Antillean/Aruban population had a higher risk of total injury mortality (RR = 1.33 and 1.53 respectively), while Turkish and Moroccans had increased risk only for selected conditions. Inequalities in injury mortality were the highest among children and young adults, but persisted in the age group above 50 years old. Conclusion: Ethnic differences in injury mortality in the Netherlands strongly depended on type of injury, ethnic group, sex, and age. Policies should be aimed at the prevention of high risk injuries among the most vulnerable ages and ethnic groups.